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7th August 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Guitar was developed across Europe from the 12th century onwards. Modern Guitars usually have six strings. Their vibration is transmitted to the body of the Guitar via a sound board. Air inside the body vibrates and increases the sound.
The Baroque Guitar was played between 1600 and 1750. It usually has 5 courses and 9 or 10 strings, with frets fastened around the neck like a lute. It had a much narrower body and longer scale length than the modern classical guitar.
This instrument was made in the 17th century, probably in Italy. It has 10 strings in 5 courses.
Guitars are assigned the number 321.322-5 in the Hornbostel Sachs classification of musical instruments indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck
321.322 = Necked Box Lutes. Instruments in which the resonator is built up from wood.
The Swarmandal is a drone instrument, while the Yamaha nylon-string and the Ibanez electric silently listen on.
Marching band on commercial street. Swea City, Iowa. ca1912. Photographer: William Shirley.
William Shirley Collection
Source: State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines
Reproductions and permissions: www.iowaculture.gov/history/research/research-centers/cop...
24th September 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Slide Trumpet is a trumpet with a slide similar to a Trombone. However, the slide is short with a limited range of action, when compared to the U-slide or double slide of the trombone. The player moves the slide with the fingers of the left hand. This can lower the pitch by one or two semitones is when drawn towards them. Slides began appearing on trumpets during the Renaissance era and was very popular in 19th century English orchestras. With the early versions the return of the slide is achieved via one or two gut strings and a clock spring mechanism. Later ones had a rubber elastic cord. Whlie some of the Slide Trumpets made in more recent times have folowed the Renaissance long trumpet design, others have resembled more the modern Trumpet. With much longer taper ending in a larger flare and being much shorter in length (the same length of tubing being curved around twice).
This instrument was made in England in the first quarter of the 19th century. It sounds in F.
Slide Trumpets are assigned the number 423.22 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
423 = Trumpets. The player's vibrating lips set the air in motion.
423.2 = Chromatic Trumpet. The pitch of the instrument can be altered mechanically
423.22 = Slide Trumpets. The pitch can be changed by extending a telescopic section of the instrument.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Harpsichord was a popular instrument in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries. Pressing a key on the instrument's keyboard lifts a jack (a long strip of wood) that holds a small plectrum (a wedge-shaped piece of quill, now usually plastic), which plucks the string. When the player releases the key, the jack falls back and a felt damper at the top of the jack stops the string vibratiing. The term harpsichord is used to cover a family of instrument, but more specifically a grand-piano-shaped instrument with a triangular case accommodating long bass and short treble strings. Harpsichords can have one, two, and sometimes even three keyboards, which are called manuals. Single manual harpsichords usually have two sets of strings per note, whilst double manual harpsichords usually have a third set of strings that sounds one octave higher than played. The upper manual was originally used for transposing; and later for contrast of tone with the ability to couple the registers of both manuals for a fuller sound.
This instrument was made in 1793 John Broadwood and Sons in London. It is a single-manual Harpsichord. English Harpsichords were similar to French ones with the introduction of a new register: the lute. They were noted for their luxurious tone.
Harpsichords are assigned the number 314.122-6-8 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
31 = Simple Chordophones. Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings and a string bearer
314 = Board Zither. Instrument uses a string bearer that is shaped like a board, or is the ground.
314.1 = Instrument with strings parallel to the string bearer.
314.12 = Instrument has a resonator.
314.122 = Box Zither. Instrument has a resonator made from slats.
314.122-6-8 = Strings are caused to vibrate by plectrum and keyboard.
29th May 2012 at National Theatre (Djanogly Concert Pitch), London SE1 (Majagua gig).
The Seed Rattle is one of the simplest forms of shaken instruments, and can be found in both Africa and South America. They consist of seed pods husks strung together. They can be played either whilst held in the hand and shaken, or wrapped around a leg or waist and the sound is created by the player’s movement.
Seed Rattles are assigned the number 112.111 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
11 = Struck Idiophones. These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck.
112 = Indirectly Struck Idiophones. The player himself does not go through the movement of striking; percussion results indirectly through some other movement by the player.
112.1 = Shaken Idiophones. The player makes a shaking motion.
112.11 = Suspension Rattles. Perforated idiophones are mounted together, and shaken to strike against each other
112.111 = Strung Rattles. Rattling objects are strung in rows on a cord.
8th October 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Trombone (the name means large trumpet) has a bigger mouthpiece and a longer tube (bent into an S shape) than the Trumpet. Trombone has been built in every size from piccolo to contrabass. The Slide Trombone has a telescoping slide mechanism that varies the length of the instrument to change the pitch. It developed in the middle of the 18th century from the Sackbut. Writers today identify a number of differences between the Sackbut and early Trombones in relation to the bore, bell, etc.), but at the time the two names and others (e.g. Posaune) were often applied to what seem to be the same instrument. The early Trombones had slightly smaller dimensions and had a bell that was more conical and less flared than the modern version.
The Buccin or Buccin à tête de serpent is a Trombone which ends with a semi-circular tube leading to a bell shaped like a serpent’s or dragon’s head, sometimes with a metal tongue emerging from the head. The head emerges from behind the player's shoulder and appears alongside the top of their forehead. The Buccin was particularly popular in military bands in France between 1810 and 1845.
This instrument was made by Francisco Bernareggii in Barcelona, Spain in the first quarter of the 19th century.
Slide Trombones are assigned the number 423.22 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
423 = Trumpets. The player's vibrating lips set the air in motion.
423.2 = Chromatic Trumpet. The pitch of the instrument can be altered mechanically
423.22 = Slide Trumpets. The pitch can be changed by extending a telescopic section of the instrument.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Mandolin evolved from the Lute via the Mandore in 17th and 18th century Italy. It became popular in the United States in the mid 19th century, where folowing an instrument produced in 1905 by Orville H. Gibson it adopted a flat back rather than the bowl shaped one. The bodies of modern Mandolins can be either pear shaped or tear drop shaped (i.e. with a scroll carved into the headstock). They also vary in the shape and position of the sound holes which impacts on the sound of the instrument.
In 17th century Italy Mandolins adopted different styles based on diferent regions of the country e.g. Milanese, Lombardic, Roman, Cremonese, Brescian, Genoese, Neapolitan before the last became the dominant style.
The Brescian and Lombardo Mandolins were hybrids between the Mandore and the Neapolitan Mandolin. They had four or six gut strings rather than metal ones, and were shorter and with a with a shallow back than the Napolitan mandolin.
This instrument is confusingly described by the museum in different places as a "Mandore". "Brescian Mandolin" and "Lombardo Mandolin" (in the display case, on its website and at a linked MIMO page). It was made in 1755 by Angelo Bergonzi in Cremona, Italy, and has six strings.
Mandolins are assigned the number 321.321 in the Hornbostel Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck.
321.321 = Necked Bowl Lutes. Instrument with a resonator made from a bowl, either natural or carved.
Play the keys with your left. Lord Gray was kind and told me I was a natural but I could barely get the simple tune he taught me out. I kept trying to think of how to play "Twinkle twinkle little star" on it. It was tuned to D so I was thinking too hard about how to transpose it. I think it would be easier for a lefty to play.
30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.
The Bugle is a brass instrument which usually has no valves or other way of altering the pitch (there are some keyed bugles). It developed from the Hunting Horn and is most notably associated with military use.
The Pocket Bugle is, as the name suggests, a small version of the Bugle. They date back to the beginning of the 19th century, including the version made by William Shaw of London.
One varient of the Pocket Bugle was the Bicycle Bugle. These were initially used to warn pedestriians and vehicles. Bicycle clubs in Britain and North America from the late 19th century to the start of the First World War included a Club Bugler riding in the number two position to the left of the Club Captain and using a recognized code of signals to coordinate the movements of a large group of riders in tours and parades (e.g. mounting, speeding up, slowing down, dismounting, lifting their hats). Bicycle Bugles were often triple coiled giving them the same length of tubing as larger double-coil Bugles.
This instrument was made crca 1900 by Joseph Higham in Manchester. It is a Bicycle Bugle with four coils.
Bugles are assigned the number 423.121.22 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
423 = Trumpets. The player's vibrating lips set the air in motion.
423.1 = There are no means of changing the pitch apart from the player's lips.
423.12 = Tubular trumpets.
423.121 = End-blown trumpets. The mouth-hole faces the axis of the trumpet.
423.121.2 = End-blown horns. The tube is curved or folded.
423.121.22 = With mouthpiece.
7th June 2013 at St Ethelburga’s, London EC2 (Amaraterra gig).
The Mandola is part of the Mandolin family. As developed in Naples in the 18th and 19th centuries the instruments had bowl shaped backs. The Mandolin is the soprano instrument of the family and the Mandola the tenor. The latter is also known as an alt mandolin (or mandola contralto or mandoliola).The Tenor Mandolin is smaller than the Octave instrument - with a scale length of around 40-42 cm (17-18”) compared to 50-58 cm (20-23”).
Tenor Mandolins/Mandolas are assigned the number 321.321 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid-body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonator’s surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck.
321.321 = Necked Bowl Lutes. Instrument with a resonator made from a bowl, either natural or carved.
3rd May 2016 at Heath Street Baptist Church, London NW3.
The Harpsichord was a popular instrument in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries. Pressing a key on the instrument's keyboard lifts a jack (a long strip of wood) that holds a small plectrum (a wedge-shaped piece of quill, now usually plastic), which plucks the string. When the player releases the key, the jack falls back and a felt damper at the top of the jack stops the string vibratiing. The term harpsichord is used to cover a family of instrument, but more specifically a grand-piano-shaped instrument with a triangular case accommodating long bass and short treble strings. Harpsichords can have one, two, and sometimes even three keyboards, which are called manuals. Single manual harpsichords usually have two sets of strings per note, whilst double manual harpsichords usually have a third set of strings that sounds one octave higher than played. The upper manual was originally used for transposing; and later for contrast of tone with the ability to couple the registers of both manuals for a fuller sound.
Harpsichords are assigned the number 314.122-6-8 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
31 = Simple Chordophones. Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings and a string bearer
314 = Board Zither. Instrument uses a string bearer that is shaped like a board, or is the ground.
314.1 = Instrument with strings parallel to the string bearer.
314.12 = Instrument has a resonator.
314.122 = Box Zither. Instrument has a resonator made from slats.
314.122-6-8 = Strings are caused to vibrate by plectrum and keyboard.
27th July 2016 at the Nehru Centre, London W1.
A Hindustani Slide Guitar is an Indian adaption of the Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar. In the 1960s Brij Bhushan Kabra modified a Gibson guitar with a raised fretboard and a drone string. He was followed by V.M. Bhatt who modified his archtop to create what he called a Mohan Veena.
Created in the 1970s the Mohan Veena has 19 strings: three melody strings and four three drone strings coming out of the peg heads, and 12 sympathetic.ones strung to the tuners mounted on the side of the neck. The original steel rod used as slide came from Bhatt's old Vespa scooter.
Hindustani Slide Guitars are assigned the number 321.322-6 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators surface.
321.3 = Handle Lutes. Instruments in which the string bearer is a plain handle.
321.32 = Necked Lutes. Instrument in which the handle is attached to, or carved from, the resonator, like a neck.
321.322 = Necked Box Lutes. Instruments in which the resonator is built up from wood.
321.322-6 = Strings vibrated by a plectrum.
6th May 2011 at the Fair Grounds Race Course (Lapniappe Stage), New Orleans, USA (Moyuba gig).
Batá Drums with originally played by the Yoruba people of Nigeria, it was taken to Cuba and used in Santeria ceremonies. They are often come in sets of three drums of different sizes (a Lyá, Itótele and Okónkolo). Both ends are struck.
Batá Drums are assigned the number 211.242.2 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
2 = Membranophones. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
21 = Struck Membranophones. Sound is produced by hitting the drumskin with a hand or object.
211 = Directly Struck Membranophones. Instruments in which the membrane is struck directly.
211.2 = Tubular Drums. Instruments in which the body is tubular.
211.24 = Hourglass Shaped Drums Instruments in which the body is hourglass-shaped.
211.242 = Instruments which have two usable membranes.
211.242.1 = single instruments.
19th June 2018 at Barbican, London EC2 (Headspace Ensemble gig).
The Carnyx is a Celtic-variant of the Etruscan and Roman bronze trumpets like the Lituus and Cornu. It was in use between c. 200 BC and c. AD 200 in Britain, France, parts of Germany, eastward to Romania and beyond. The instrument ia an an elongated S shape, with a long straight central portion, a short mouthpiece and a wider bell styled in the shape of an boar or other animal's head.
This Carnyx is based on seven (one nearly complete) in a a first-century-BC deposit found in 2004 at Tintignac in the Corrèze department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It was made for John Kenny by the French craftsman Jean Boisserie from hand hammered bronze.
Carnyces are a ssigned the number 423.121.12 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
423 = Trumpets. The player's vibrating lips set the air in motion.
423.1 = There are no means of changing the pitch apart from the player's lips.
423.12 = Tubular trumpets.
423.121 = End-blown trumpets. The mouth-hole faces the axis of the trumpet.
423.121.1 = End-blown straight trumpets. The tube is neither curved nor folded
423.121.12 = With mouthpiece.
15th October 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Cavalry Trumpet is a Natural Trumpet i.e it has no slides, keys, or valves to help the player change the pitch. Its is used by the military to play a limited set of notes, with each call having a distinct message. It was replaced by the Bugle which could be heard at a greater distance as its pitch is higher.
This instrument was made in the late 19th century. It is in in E ♭, with a compact shape and a wide bell flare.
Natural Trumpets are assigned the number 423.121.22 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-free aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
423 = Trumpets. The player's vibrating lips set the air in motion.
423.1 = There are no means of changing the pitch apart from the player's lips.
423.12 = Tubular trumpets.
423.121 = End-blown trumpets. The mouth-hole faces the axis of the trumpet.
423.121.2 = End-blown horns. The tube is curved or folded.
423.121.22 = With mouthpiece.
8th November 2016 at the Rich Mix, London E1 (Chango Spasiuk gig).
The Udu is a Nigerian clay water jug, also used as a musical instrument. It has one hole at the top and another at the side. It spread from Africa to being played in Latin Music. The exterior is hit with one or both hands and the air within the resonating chamber controlled by covering or uncovering either of the holes. This can produce a very low sound. Thus the Udu is both a Percussive Idiophone and simultaneously a Plosive Aerophone..
Udus are assigned the numbers 111.24 and 413.2 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
1 = Idiophones. Sound is primarily produced by the actual body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string, membrane, or column of air.
11 = Struck Idiophones. These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck.
111 = Directly Struck Idiophones. The player himself executes the movement of striking; whether by mechanical intermediate devices, beaters, keyboards, or by pulling ropes, etc.
111.2 = Percussive idiophones. The instrument is struck either with a non-sonorous object (hand, stick, striker) or against a non-sonorous object (human body, the ground).
111.24 = Percussion vessels.
and
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
41 = Free Aerophones. The vibrating air is not contained within the instrument.
413 = Plosive Aerophones. The sound is caused by a single compression and release of air.
413.2 = Implosive aerophones. The air is forced in
The ransingha (also spelled narsiha, narsingha) is a type of primitive trumpet used in parts of India. The instrument is made of two metal curves, joined together to form an "S" shape
An artist from Uttrakhand is blowing trumpet.
This was my Christmas gift from my husband, a beautiful new white Jaguar bass. It's a wonderful instrument!
9th October 2021 at Cecil Sharp House (Kennedy Hall), London NW1.
The Accordion is a bellows driven free reed instrument. From the 1820s onwards several different free reed instruments were invented across Europe (the first to use the name Accordion was patented in Vienna in 1829). They evolved into three main types of instrument: Diatonic, Chromatic and Piano Accordions (as well as Concertinas).
The Diatonic Accordion is operated by pressing buttons or keys which allows air to flow across the reeds (these are strips of brass or steel) which vibrate to produce sound. It is bisonoric (the buttons make one note when the bellows are compressed and another when they are expanded).
The Melodeon is the name used In England for the Diatonic Accordion (though the player may well be using an instrument manufactured in continental Europe and known there as an Accordion). A Melodeon has between 1 and 3 rows of button on the right hand side.
This instrument is a Saltarelle Connemara II in D/G. It was made in the early 1990s, and has 12 basses and a two and a half row right hand (23 + 4). This is Spiers favourite box.
Melodeons are assigned the number 412.132 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
41 = Free Aerophones. The vibrating air is not contained within the instrument.
412 = Interruptive Free Aerophones. The air-stream is interrupted periodically.
412.1 = Idiophonic Interruptive Aerophones or Reeds. The air-stream is directed against a lamella, setting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently.
412.13 = Free Reed Instruments. Instrument features a reed which vibrates within a closely fitting slot.
412.132 = Sets of Free Reads.
3rd May 2014 at the Fair Grounds Race Course (Casa do Brasil), New Orleans, USA.
[the photo was actually taken on a different day to this performance at João do Pife’s stall in the tent]
The Pife grew out of the European Fife (a small high pitched transverse flute) and native American flutes. It is made of bamboo and popular in the north east of Brazil.
Pifes are assigned the number 421.121.12 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
4 = Aerophones. Sound is primarily produced by vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.
42 = Non-Free Aerophones. The vibrating air is contained within the instrument.
421 = Edge-Blown Flutes. A narrow stream of air is directed against an edge.
421.1 = Flutes without a Duct. The player makes a ribbon-shaped flow of air with his lips.
421.12 = Side-Blown Flutes. The player blows against the sharp rim of a hole in the side of the tube.
421.121 = Single Side-Blown Flutes.
421.121.1 = Open Side-Blown Flutes.
421.121.12 = With Fingerholes.